Menopause herb alert

Doctors have been warned about a common herbal menopause treatment known as black cohosh after a woman taking the herb for one week suffered liver failure.

The woman, 47, needed an urgent liver transplant after suffering acute hepatitis, according to an article in The Medical Journal of Australia.

It is the first time black cohosh, which is freely available and widely used by women in Australia, has been linked to liver damage. The report comes as many women turn to alternative treatments after the hormone replacement therapy scare.

Black cohosh is also an alternative treatment for menopause recommended by the Sydney Menopause Centre at the Royal Hospital for Women.

NSW vice-president of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association, Dr Ramesh Manocha, said studies had shown black cohosh was effective in treating hot flushes and sweating with few side effects.");document.write("